“Leon Somov and St. Christopher Orchestra, along with the composer Tomas Petrikis, created the music piece Paupio Ritmai [Rhythms of Riverside] for the newly re-emerging Vilnius area, which reflects the region’s history up until today. As such, it is only fitting that in order to attract Vilnius’ residents and celebrate the brand-new resting zones, we do so with Somov’s works,” Darnu Group director for corporate affairs and marketing Akvilė Liaudanskienė said.
The event, which drew hundreds of viewers, was crowned with a fountain in the Vilnelė river dancing along to the melody of Paupio Ritmai.
Carpets and tyres on the riverbed
Having been abandoned for many years, this part of the Old Town is being resurrected, with new residents settling in Paupys, offices filling with staff, cafes, shops, and restaurants awaiting visitors. Soon, a cinema is due to open as well as the Paupys Market, an art gallery, and other leisure and service spaces. Paupys is already becoming a centre of gravity for city residents – ever more people are discovering its renewed architecture and cosy resting places near fountains or the riverside.
A week ago, at the invitation of Darnu Group, divers cleaned the riverbed of Vilnelė river and removed four tonnes of waste from the river, that crosses the very heart of the capital. Among the items removed there were not only bags of clothing, but also furniture, carpets, construction waste, materials, and tractor tyres.
A unique piece for the area
It was a unique opportunity to create a sound for a non-traditional object of artistic expression which expands creative spaces that spurred on the creation of music for the re-emerging Paupys region and Somov does not hide that this project fascinated him from the moment he heard of the idea.
“Creating a sound for a historical part of the Old Town was not only an interesting experience, but also a unique challenge – how do you portray the Old Town’s blending with nature, and the connection to the historical past with the contemporary world? I believe that these combinations were revealed very well through the combination of classical and electronic music, which I personally enjoy, and I think that I was able to create a truly cinematographic sound,” he said.
Public spaces and events in Paupys
A new square was introduced in Paupys recently hosting a dynamic fountain and it is planned to continue organising musical performances in the square during the remaining Fridays in August.
“We seek for the re-emerging Paupys to be discovered by more and more people – Vilnius residents, guests and tourists – as an open area for leisure and entertainment. Too long and undeservedly has it remained abandoned, and so we are glad to return it to the map of Vilnius and we promise even more interesting activities and events,” Liaudanskienė said.
